Last day before finals, hard work and play, parentheses

1. Today was the last day of class before finals at Belmont. It feels really nice to be finishing up. (There is still grading to do, but it seems less daunting that writing tests, assignments, and lesson plans.)
   
   
2. All three girls worked really hard today while I was at work and got lots of school done (and still had some time to play in the creek, they tell me). This was a happy change from last week (at least for two of my three girls).
   
   
3. Parentheses (are fun to use).